Resection of Gallbladder Cancer, Including Surgical Staging

Abstract

Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Its incidence increases significantly with age, and it is two to three times more common in women. It is particularly more frequent in geographic locations such as Chile and India. The most prevalent risk factor for gallbladder cancer is cholelithiasis-associated chronic inflammation, with cancer developing in 0.3 to 3.0 % of those with gallstones. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, chemical and drug exposures, gallbladder polyps, Salmonella bacterial infections, choledochal cysts and anomalous junctions of the pancreatobiliary ducts, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Gallbladder calcification (porcelain gallbladder) has been associated with carcinoma in 15 % of patients. It is estimated that 1 % of patients undergoing cholecystectomy for gallstones are found to have cancer.